[{"id":177289625738,"handle":"art-collection","title":"Art Collection","updated_at":"2024-08-05T15:40:26-04:00","body_html":"One of a kind, handmade pieces by Michael","published_at":"2020-03-20T10:39:57-04:00","sort_order":"created-desc","template_suffix":"","disjunctive":false,"rules":[{"column":"tag","relation":"equals","condition":"art"}],"published_scope":"global"},{"id":186597343370,"handle":"flags","updated_at":"2024-06-08T12:50:05-04:00","published_at":"2020-05-15T12:17:55-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"FLAGS","body_html":"\u003cp\u003eA few years ago, I was working in my studio\/store, when a woman walked in and started staring at one of my flags. She told me she worked for the Jasper Johns Foundation, and I patiently waited to see where this was leading. Luckily she really liked them, and I of course mentioned that I would be happy to give one to Mr. Johns, though she did not take up my offer!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI love this story, because I originally made these flags as a tribute to Jasper Johns.\u003c\/p\u003e"},{"id":266232430730,"handle":"handmade","updated_at":"2024-11-04T12:10:11-05:00","published_at":"2022-01-22T09:21:07-05:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"HANDMADE","body_html":"I design every piece in all of my collections, but I make these from start to finish in my Berkshire studio. If it says \"sold out\" and you want it, please call 413-717-4211 and I will make it to order.","image":{"created_at":"2022-11-17T13:28:12-05:00","alt":null,"width":2400,"height":2400,"src":"\/\/www.michaelwainwright.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/borealis_blue_detail.jpg?v=1668709693"}}]
Kintsugi is a Japanese technique and philosophy of embracing the imperfect. The story goes that a 15th century Japanese Ruler broke a cherished tea bowl. The technique to repair things in those days was with ugly staples, but this piece was so important to him, he asked his craft's people to find another way. They mixed resin with 24k gold and reformed the piece. The idea is that the history and imperfections of the piece are as important as the piece itself. The work was so popular in its day, that people intentionally broke their family heirlooms, just so they could be repaired with Kintsugi.
These flags are also my tribute to Jasper Johns. They are handmade by me in the Berkshires and are porcelain, finished with 24k gold, I designed them as wall hangings.